Motorists urged to think outside box

Updated 10:42 pm, Sunday, July 28, 2013

Shelton Aldermen Stanley Kudej, left, and Eric McPherson stand at the intersection of Howe Avenue and Center Street in downtown Shelton, Conn. Tuesday, July 23, 2013 near a newly-installed sign that warns of fines for blocking the intersection. less

Shelton Aldermen Stanley Kudej, left, and Eric McPherson stand at the intersection of Howe Avenue and Center Street in downtown Shelton, Conn. Tuesday, July 23, 2013 near a newly-installed sign that warns of ... more

Shelton Aldermen Stanley Kudej stands at the intersection of Howe Avenue and Center Street in downtown Shelton, Conn. Tuesday, July 23, 2013 near a newly-installed sign that warns of fines for blocking the intersection as a truck is caught "blocking the box" as the light turns green for traffic going the other direction. less

Shelton Aldermen Stanley Kudej stands at the intersection of Howe Avenue and Center Street in downtown Shelton, Conn. Tuesday, July 23, 2013 near a newly-installed sign that warns of fines for blocking the ... more

Vehicles "block the box" at the intersection of Howe Avenue and Center Street in downtown Shelton, Conn. Wednesday, July 24, 2013. A new city ordinance will result in fines for drivers blocking the intersection. less

Vehicles "block the box" at the intersection of Howe Avenue and Center Street in downtown Shelton, Conn. Wednesday, July 24, 2013. A new city ordinance will result in fines for drivers blocking the ... more

Vehicles "block the box" at the intersection of Howe Avenue and Center Street in downtown Shelton, Conn. Wednesday, July 24, 2013. A new city ordinance will result in fines for drivers blocking the intersection. less

Vehicles "block the box" at the intersection of Howe Avenue and Center Street in downtown Shelton, Conn. Wednesday, July 24, 2013. A new city ordinance will result in fines for drivers blocking the ... more

Vehicles "block the box" at the intersection of Howe Avenue and Center Street in downtown Shelton, Conn. Wednesday, July 24, 2013. A new city ordinance will result in fines for drivers blocking the intersection. less

Vehicles "block the box" at the intersection of Howe Avenue and Center Street in downtown Shelton, Conn. Wednesday, July 24, 2013. A new city ordinance will result in fines for drivers blocking the ... more

SHELTON -- Motorists traveling in the city's downtown should pay attention to those freshly painted white lines at four major intersections.

They are part of a new initiative by city officials and the police department to eliminate traffic congestion by prohibiting vehicles from "blocking the box."

The lines, accompanied by street signs recently installed by the state Department of Transportation, are reminders to motorists not to block intersections. They face a $117 fine if they do.

Blocked intersections on Howe Avenue have long been a problem, said Alderman Eric McPherson, who proposed a city ordinance after the state Legislature passed the "Obstructing Intersections" law in 2009.

"The trouble is, people want to beat the red light and end up under it when it turns green in the other direction," said McPherson, chairman of the board's street committee. "Sometimes there are two or three cars blocking an intersection and people on the other side, with the green light, can't get through."

McPherson, who represents the city's downtown district, said he's seen this happen many times. "It can cause traffic to be backed up for blocks," he said. "It's just common-sense stuff."

Alderman Stanley Kudej, representing downtown, agreed. "We felt that if we could keep people from blocking the intersections, we could keep traffic moving," he said. "That would make a lot of people happy."

McPherson said the new ordinance, unanimously approved by aldermen in February 2012, will not only help keep the traffic flowing, but will also make it easier for emergency vehicles to make their way through downtown, especially at peak traffic times.

Police Chief Joel Hurliman agreed. "The purpose of this law is not only to help with the flow of traffic, but also to allow emergency vehicles to get through the intersections safely," he said.

The white lines, painted in a box shape, are at the following intersections: Howe Avenue at Center Street; Howe at Bridge Street; Howe at White Street and Center Street at Coram Avenue.

Kudej said the challenge will be to make people learn what the lines mean. Motorists should be prepared for police enforcement at those intersections, with fines for violators. "We hope to have voluntary compliance with the law rather than issue tickets," Hurliman said.

The cost to the city -- for the signs and painting -- was approximately $8,000 -- from the police department's budget, said Kudej.

There will be a 30-day grace period now that the signs have been installed. "During that time, anyone blocking the box will only get a warning from police," McPherson said.